Safety device for refrigerating-machines.



F. A. wlLLcox.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20 I9I7.

Patented Mayr. 18,1919.

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f UNITED STATES Parana? serien.

FRANK AINSWORTH -WILLCOX F DARTFORD, ENGrLANiII).v

' `SAFIEHJY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATING-MACHINES.

To all 'whom z'z may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK AiNsWoRTH WrLLcox, a subject of the King ofyGrreat Britain, residing at Dartford Ironworks, Dartford,.in the countyof Kent, England, have invented new and useful Improvements yin SafetyDevices for Refrigerating-Machines, of which the following is aspecifi-r cation. t

This invention relates to the safety devices used in connection withrefrigerating machines, which devices prevent the escape of gases, orvapors, under normal` conditions, but act to relieve abnormal pressure,yand the objectof this invention is to provide devices whichsatisfactorily answer those conditions and are not lia-ble to defectsapplying yto the safety devices hitherto employed or proposed, butcombine the functions of efficient lsafety valves without leakagetherefrom into the atmosphere y'of the place where the lrefrigeratingmachine is situated.

According to this invention, the ordinary spring-loaded, or othersuitable, safety valve, or valvulararrangement, is inclosed in a casingconstituting a vessel (which is normally closed against communicationwith the atmosphere) surrounding the safety valve, or valvularyarrangement or otherwise adapted to receive any gas, or vapor, which maypass the said safety valve, or valvular Y arrangement, which is inconnectiony with the delivery, or compression side of the compressor ofthe refrigerating machine by a pipe,-or passage, distinct from thatwhich passes the compressed gases, or vapors, to the place wheretheirexpansion is to be utilized.- In the top, or other wall of this cas-Vying is an opening normally closed by means for relieving pressure whenyit exceeds any predetermined amount in the casing, such as the knowndevice consisting of a dia-v phragm of a material and thickness whichwill allow it to break at a predetermined pressure, say a pressure offrom five, to yten pounds per square inch. They cas-ingofy the saidsafety valve yor valvular' arrangement is in communication with means(distinct from the aforesaid compressor of the refrigerating machine)for removing gasesorvapors from the said casing, suchfor example as thesuction of ra small compressor, or

pump, Iwhose deliveryV may communicate with the suctionl ofthe maincompressor, or withV any other suitable place, one of my Specificationof Letters Patent.

PatentedrMar. 18, 1919,

' Application led December 20, 1917. SerialiNo. 208,145.

chief objects ybeing toV prevent loss of N H'3-SO2,CO2, etc. Y

The accompanying drawing shows, diagrammatically in elevation,arrangements',Y

in accordance with my invention, applied to a vapor compressionrefrigerating machine only as much of which is shown as is necessary'toillustrate the application of my invention thereto, in which a'sniallcompressor, or pump, is used.

Referring first to the drawing, the safety device is shown as a springvalve at A. The casing surrounding it is marked B. The aforesaiddiaphragm, which ibreaks under ohjectionablepressure, is marked C. Thevalve A, is in communication, by the pipe b, with the delivery, orcompression, pipe d2, of the main compressor D,.of the refrigeratingmachine, the remainder of whichl machine it is not necessary to show. lThe interior ofthe casing B above the safetyvalve A, is incommunication, by the. pipe b2, with the suction side of the smallcompressor, or pump, E.

When the apparatus is in operation, and the small compressor, or pump,E, isV at work, gases, or vapors, which may leak past the safety valve,or valvular arrangement, aty A, are withdrawn from the inclosing casingB by the small compressor7 or pump E, and discharged, through the pipe einto the suction CZ, lof. the main compressor D, (or other desiredplace), and, as long as the small compressor, or pump,'E, is at Work,the pressure in the casing B, will ybe approximately atmosphericpressure, or below atmospheric pressure, as may be arranged, and thevalve at A, will open at the pressure, for which' it is adjusted. If,for any reason, the small compressor, orcpump,` E, should not be atwork, any gases, or vapors, which mayleaky past the valve A willvaccumulate in the casing B and, when the pressure exceeds that whichthe diaphragm C is adjusted to stand, it will rupture (the escapinggases, or va.- pors, passing off 'by a Icontinu-ation of the pipe C2 tothe external air) and the attention of the attendant will be drawn tothe fact that the small compressor, or pump, E, has notbeen working. Inlargeplants, it is preferred' to drive the small compressor, or pump E,by a motor whose starting gear is put into action by an electric contactmade for the purpose, for example, by means of a U tube F, containingmercury, one leg being in communication with the casing B, by the pipe 3and the other leg being in communi cation with the atmosphere (ifdesired by the pipe 224 leading into the pipe C2) so that, when contactis made by the mercury between the terminals ,f and f2, under predetermined pressure in the casing B, the motor and small compressor, orpump, E, will be started and, when the pressure falls in the casing B,the said compresser, or pump, E. will stop. lf desired the mercury inthe U tube F, can maire contact to ring a bell, or to give other signal,'before the. diaphragm C is broken and, in cases where the smallcompressor, or pump, E, is not motor-driven, the attendant can thenstart the said compressor, or pump, E.

Owing to the pressure in the casin B (when the small compressor, orpump, i is at work), being practically constant, the valve at A willalways open at, or about, the pressure for which it is set and, whenthis pressure rises abnormally and the safety valve consequently lifts,the rush of gases, or vapors, breaks theJ diaphragm C and the gases orvapors pass to a pipe C2, or other suitable passage, leading to theatmosphere or to some receptacle provided for absorbing the vapors.

Any required number of the aforesaid incased safety valves, or valvulararrangements, may be connected to the suction of one compressor, orpump, such as E, or to the suctions of a number of such compressors, orpumps, which may be driven as de scribed, or in any other suitable way,for example by gearing, from the main compressor D, or, in an absorptionmachine by gearing, from the main pump.

It will be understood however, that l do not limit myself to the use ofthe small compressor, or pump, for withdrawing the gases or vapors, fromthe casing B, as any suitable means may be used.

What l claim is l. In connection with the safety devices ofrefrigerating machines, a casing constituting a vessel normally closedto the surrounding atmosphere and adapted to receive gases, or vapors,which may pass the safety device, and means, distinct from the maincompressor of the machine, for removing such gases, or vapors, from thesaid casing.

2. In comiection with the safety devices of refrigerating machines, acasing constituting a vessel normally closed to the surroundingatmosphere and adapted to receive gases, or vapors, which may pass thesafety device,

and means, distinct from the main compressor of the machine, forremoving said gases, or vapors, from the said casing, the said vesselbeing provided with an opening normally closed by a diaphragm adapted tobreak on the attainment of a predetermined pressure in the casing.

3. In connection with the safety devices of refrigerating machines, acasing constituting a vessel normally closed to the surroundingatmosphere and adapted to receive gases, or vapors, which may pass thesafety device, and means, distinct from the main compressor of themachine, for removing such gases, or vapors, from the said casino', andcomprising a small compressor, or pump connected at its suction sidewith the interior of the casing and at its delivery side with thesuction side of the main compressor of the refrigerating machine.

d. ln connection with the safety devices of refrigerating machines, acasing consti tuting a vessel normally closed to the surroundingatmosphere and adapted to receive gases, or vapors, which may pass thesafety device, and means distinct from the main compressor of themachine for removing such gases, or vapors, from the said casing, andcomprising a small compressor or pump connected at its suction side withthe interior of the casing, and at its delivery side with the suctionside of the main compressor of the refrigerating machine, and a motorfor the said small compressor or pump, and means for starting it, andmeans for making an electric contact by pressure from the interior ofthe casing of the valve, or valvular arrangement.

5. ln connection with the safety devices of refrigerating machines, acasing constituting a vessel normally closed to the surroundingatmosphere and adapted to receive gases, or vapors, which may pass thesafety device, and means distinct from the main compressor of themachine for removing such gases, or vapors, from the said casing, and amercurial device subject to pressure from the interior of the casingsurrounding the valve, or valvular arrangement, and adapted to makeelectrical contact, for the purposes described.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in. thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK AINSWORTH WILLCOX.

Witnesses:

Pliner R. GoLDRING, W. R. YEADELL.

Copies of this patent may De obtained five cents each, by addressing theGommssoner of Patents,

Washington, D. E.

